I received a couple of massages from you guys, telling me you can't see the new chapter. I republished it now and hope it will work. I was at the movies otherwise I would have tried earlier.
AN: Weekend. Finally. Sorry I kept you waiting. I hope enjoy this one.
XOXOX
Kate blinked against the dim light, filtering through one of the high-up windows of her prison. Grunting in pain, she tried to sit up, pushing herself far enough to lean her back against the cold stone wall. She just wanted it to be over. Her throat was killing her; she was so thirsty every breath hurt, rattling down her lungs and making her dread the moment she would no longer be able to avoid taking the next gulp of air.
Every waking moment was filled with images of Castle's lifeless body floating through her mind and she couldn't take it anymore. When was it ever enough? She'd barely made it through her mother's death, probably wouldn't have without Castle by her side. Without him replacing the emptiness in her heart, she was certain she would have lost herself, and now that light, that joy and sense of completeness which had finally made her feel alive again, was gone. She couldn't do it again, especially without him.
Letting her tongue run over her split lips, she wished she could press them against his, against his skin. She wished she could tease him with her tongue, letting it run over his collarbone, using her teeth to pull at his ear lobe, let her mouth to do wicked things to other parts of him. She wished she could place her lips over his heart, place feather light kisses on his eyelids. She just wished she could kiss him one last time. Feel his soft talented lips against hers, against her skin. Just one more time.
She swallowed, but there were no more tears. She was all cried out and beside the memories of him, of them, she felt numb. Closing her eyes, she finally gave in to the darkness, letting it fill up her heart.
XOXOX
Ryan pointed at a black SUV on one of the tapes. "Could be our BMW, what do you think?" He looked at his partner, who slowly nodded.
"It's coming from the direction of the restaurant," Esposito confirmed Ryan's suspicion. "Can you enhance it?"
Ryan let his fingers fly over the keyboard, producing a bigger picture of the vehicle.
"Definitely BMW," Castle stated, after getting a closer look. "What about the plate? Can you enhance that as well?"
"Not with what I have here, but I'll take it down to the tech guys and see what they can do." With that he already sprinted towards the elevator. "I'll be right back," he called out to them, before the elevator doors closed in front of him.
Turning to Castle Esposito grabbed his shoulder, "See, we'll find her. We'll find her."
"I'm still worried about the blood," Castle confessed. "There was just so much blood."
"Look, Castle. There's no need to beat yourself up about this until we're sure it's hers."
"It's not hers," Gates joined them as if on cue. "Dr. Parish just called. The blood in the alley is definitely not Detective Beckett's." She said, giving Castle a sympathetic smile which had him wondering again how much Gates actually knew, but there was no time for him to worry about that now.
Sinking back against Ryan's desk he let out a relieved, "Thank God."
Esposito shot Gates a grateful look. They all had needed some good news. She gave him a tight smile back, glancing quickly back at Castle, who for the first time seemed to have hope, "Let me know when Ryan gets anything on the car," she said finally said before returning to her office.
XOXOX
She heard something on the other side of the door, realising just before the door opened that it was voices arguing. She kept her eyes shut tightly, hoping they would just let her be, and go away if they thought she was out of it, that she didn't want to fight. She heard the footsteps coming closer, and then felt someone kicking against her foot, gentler than they had handled her before.
"Hey," a voice questioned as she kept her eyes shut.
"Hey," this time she felt a hand at her shoulder, shaking her. "Get up." Her eyes flew open at that, so it was time.
She didn't notice the man in front of her, couldn't remember him being one of her attackers, though she'd only had his silhouette to judge by, as his face was masked.
"Get up!" He barked at her once more, kicking at her legs again, harder this time.
Kate tried to get up, struggling until she was yanked up to her feet, pain shooting through her whole body. Squinting her eyes shut to breathe through the pain, Kate tried to get her feet under her, but failed, and would have come crashing down to the ground again if it wasn't for the fierce grip one of her captor's had on her. He dragged her towards the door, ordering her to move.
While being dragged down a narrow hallway she tried to get a read on her surroundings, her survival mode finally kicking in, and her tired mind slowly trying to come up with a plan. Castle wouldn't want her to give up. In fact he would be disappointed in her if she didn't even try to find a way out of this, but she could hardly put one foot in front of the other, let alone form a coherent thought.
They kept dragging her along, down a staircase and finally shoved her into a windowless room. They just left her, not even bothering to tie her up again, which led her to the conclusion that whatever they had planned for her would happen soon.
She had heard something hit the floor behind her and pushing herself up to her knees, she grabbed for the water bottle they had wordlessly thrown down next to her. Sighing in relief she let the cool liquid run down her throat, allowing her to take her first deep breath again in what felt like an eternity.
XOXOX
Twenty minutes after Ryan had disappeared into the elevator they had an address, the car was registered to a company in Brooklyn and they were already on their way, Gates once again taking the lead, while half the precinct was following them after Gates had ordered every available officer to get to Brooklyn to back them up.
Their destination was a warehouse, supposedly empty, the owner apparently nothing more than a shell company. They all hoped they would find their partner there, desperately praying they weren't too late. They still had no idea exactly what Ranston's role was in all of this. But they all suspected he was just doing the dirty work for a much bigger player.
Castle sat in the back of Ryan's and Esposito's Dodge, palms sweating, breathing heavily in his writers vest. They had told him again and again to stay behind, that once they arrived at the warehouse, he couldn't lose his head and to let the pros handle it. He had promised, but he wasn't sure he could keep it. If Kate was in there, he would do anything to get her out and no one would stop him. They'd better not even try.
Ryan was talking to Gates on the phone; discussing how to go in, where to position the uniforms and who would go in first.
XOXOX
Kate had crawled up in the far right corner of the room, pushing herself against the wall, as if she tried to vanish in it. She only felt slightly better after she had been able to fill up on fluids, her head hurt terribly and while she had been relieved to be able to move her arms and legs without restrictions, now she could do so, she also could feel every muscle in them.
She was gnawing at her bottom lip, knees drawn to her chest while she cowered in her corner. She knew he wouldn't come to get her out, to rescue her at the last minute, as he had done so many times before. Only now it became clear to her just how often he really had risk his life for her, had done everything in his power to save her, all because he'd loved her. A single sob escaped her as the reality of her situation became clear. Castle.
And then she heard them, heavy footfalls closing in before the door was yanked open and Ranston appeared in her view.
"Detective, your time has finally come," he smirked at her, and Kate found the strength somewhere to stumble up onto her feet so she could face him standing.
Breathing heavily she walked towards him until they saw eye to eye, if she couldn't get out of this for Castle, she would at least go with as much dignity as she could.
Raising her knee, with a speed that even surprised her she ramped it into Ranston's most sensitive parts.
XOXOX
They parked a block away, uniforms blocking off all possible escape routes. They wanted to have the element of surprise and driving up straight to the warehouse would definitely ruin that.
Ryan and Esposito were supposed to go first, check out the area and give the signal for the other teams positioned at all other entries to approach. Castle had been told to stay with Gates, only allowed to follow them inside when they gave the all-clear.
Rounding the last corner, Esposito and Ryan knew they had found her. The black BMW was parked in front of the warehouse.
Ryan spoke into the radio, waiting to hear back from all other teams before he and Espo crossed the open area in front of the warehouse and positioned themselves on both sides of the door.
With one last nod, they went in.
XOXOX
Ranston was panting in pain, but recovering quickly from Beckett's blow, grabbing her hair when he did, pulling her towards the door. "Bitch, you just got yourself in so much trouble." He hissed, dragging her after him.
"Ranston, you know what the boss said!" One of the other guys called after him. "No one's to touch her."
Ranston turned around, pushing Beckett against the brick wall in the process, "I'm just going to have some fun, and he will be late anyway." Turning to Beckett, he shoved her down a dark hallway, grabbing her hair again from behind and pulling her head towards him, letting his tongue run over her neck, "You'll scream for more, Detective. You'll even beg me for more."
XOXOX
Gates was busy overlooking the operation, talking to different officials, barking out orders and demanding updates on the positions of the teams inside the building.
All the while Castle was watching her, waiting for the moment he was certain she was distracted enough to have forgotten about him, as he pushed himself off the wall he was leaning against and quickly disappeared around the corner.
XOXOX
"To the right," Ryan whispered, giving Esposito a hand signal, to cover him, while he turned the next corner, scanning the hallway in front of them before silently moving on. Esposito followed, all senses on high alert, waiting for a sound a movement that would tell them where to find their partner.
XOXOX
Ranston had closed the door behind them and Beckett found herself in yet another windowless room, but this one was equipped with a light bulb dangling from the ceiling and a mattress on the floor. Ranston stalked her, gripping her arms as he pushed her backwards, but not enough to make her lose her footing. He grabbed for her button down, but she managed to push his hands away.
"Don't touch me," she hissed, but it came out more like a sob. She had nothing left to fight him. She knew she didn't stand a chance.
"You're only making it harder on yourself," Ranston grinned, reaching out for her again, this time managing to rip the buttons off, before he pushed her down onto the mattress behind her.
XOXOX
Castle was at the front door, moving quickly inside the warehouse, finding himself conflicted with which way to turn.
XOXOX
Ryan rounded another corner, finding himself staring down the barrels of three guns.
"Clear," one of the guys of Team 2 mouthed, pointing his finger back into the direction they came from and they all started to walk down the other corridor, teaming up.
And then they saw them. Five men, armed but apparently not expecting them.
"NYPD! Drop you weapons!" It rang out, each command louder than the other and Castle heard them, turning to his right.
As soon as the situation was under control Ryan glanced into the adjoining room, finding it empty. "She's not here!" He called back out to his partner.
Espo turned deadly eyes to the men, holding up their hands, "Where is she?!" He barked.
"Ranston took her," one of them said pointing into the direction they had come from. "Other side of the building."
XOXOX
Castle turned, sprinting down the corridor, his heart hammering in his chest as he prayed he wasn't too late.
XOXOX
Ranston had her pinned down and as much as she tried, she couldn't kick him off. He was trying to get his tongue on her and she had never been more disgusted in her whole life than when she felt the wet path he started drawing down her throat.
And then they both heard the footfalls, stopping in front of the door. Ranston suddenly let go of her and Beckett tried to push herself up, and away from him
The door opened, revealing a silhouette and the last thing she saw before Ranston pushed her against the wall so hard she hit her head and lost focus was him.